Traffic is not just a Metro Manila disease but one which has spread all over the country, Senator Sonny Angara said today in prodding government "to look beyond" the National Capital Region in applying cures to the transportation crisis.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has presented its latest figures on the worsening traffic in Metro Manila which showed that it now costs P3.5 billion in lost opportunities per day--higher than the estimated P2.4 billion in 2012.

The lawmaker stressed that the effective solutions should be long-term, and that the government is taking steps such as the proposed subway for Metro Manila.

"If public transport is not drastically improved, these missed economic opportunities will also replicate themselves in the big cities in Visayas and Mindanao like Metro Cebu and Cagayan de Oro where I just came from. Grabe na ang trapik doon," Angara said.

Angara has filed resolutions to look into the severe traffic congestion of Metro Cebu, and the state of public transportation in the country so as to ensure an efficient, dependable, safe, affordable and viable mass transport system.

Angara also authored Senate Bill 1568 or the Sustainable Transportation Act which seeks to create transportation demand management programs that will reduce the volume of cars in the roads as well as encourage students and workers to use public transport system. The program shall include carpooling, telecommuting, transport program for government employees, bus rapid transit system, water ferry system, among others.

The senator noted that while there's a steady increase in the number of motor vehicles in the country, the capacity of roads and mass transport systems remain, or worse, are deteriorating.